The image does most of the work

A parts diagram only works if the image is clear enough for customers to use.

The app can place hotspots, show a parts list, display live Shopify product data, and let customers add items to cart. But if the diagram itself is blurry, cramped, or confusing, the customer still has to guess.

Start with the image. Everything else sits on top of it.

Clear beats clever

You do not need the most technical drawing in the world. You need an image that helps a customer identify the part.

For many products, an exploded view is ideal. It separates the components and gives each part room to breathe. For other products, a clean assembly drawing, schematic, or labelled photo may be better.

The test is simple: can someone who owns the product find the area they care about without reading a manual?

If yes, the image is probably useful. If no, it may need simplifying before you use it in a Konfig.

Use enough resolution

A low-resolution diagram makes everything harder.

Customers need to see small parts, especially on detailed mechanical products. If the image pixelates as soon as they zoom in, the diagram stops being useful.

Use the best clean version you have. Avoid screenshots of PDFs where possible. If the original is a PDF, extract the diagram cleanly rather than taking a quick screen capture.

Konfigr includes zoom and pan for detailed diagrams, but zoom only helps if the source image has enough detail to reveal.

Leave room for hotspots

Hotspots need space.

A diagram might look fine as a static image, but once you place markers on it, crowded areas can become difficult to use. If five parts sit on top of each other, customers may not know which marker belongs to which item.

Choose images where parts are separated enough to mark clearly. If the product is complex, consider splitting it into multiple Konfigs or separate diagrams by assembly.

For example, a pump might be easier as wet-end parts and motor-side parts instead of one crowded diagram. A power tool might be split into housing, motor, and trigger assembly if the full exploded view is too dense.

Think about mobile from the start

A diagram that works on desktop can still be painful on a phone.

Customers may use your parts page from a workshop, job site, garage, or retail counter. They may be holding the broken part in one hand and their phone in the other.

Use an image that remains readable on a smaller screen. Avoid tiny labels baked into the image unless they are still readable on mobile. Make sure important parts are not hidden in tight corners.

Konfigr lets you set hotspot sizes separately for desktop, tablet, and mobile. That helps, but it cannot fix an image that is too crowded to begin with.

Be careful with numbers inside the image

Some manufacturer diagrams already have numbers. That can work well if the numbers are clear and match the parts list you plan to build.

Other times, baked-in numbers create noise. The image may contain old labels, supplier references, or numbers that do not match your Shopify products.

Konfigr can overlay its own markers, so you do not always need numbers inside the image itself. A cleaner drawing with Konfigr markers on top is often easier for customers to follow.

If you do use pre-numbered diagrams, make sure the numbering matches the customer-facing parts list. Nothing creates confusion faster than two numbering systems fighting each other.

Use clean backgrounds where possible

White or neutral backgrounds usually work best for technical diagrams.

They make parts easier to see and give hotspots better contrast. Busy backgrounds, shadows, and clutter can make markers harder to read.

Photos can still work, especially when the customer recognises the real product better than a technical drawing. If you use a photo, keep the lighting clean and the angle simple.

The goal is not to make the image artistic. The goal is to make the part easy to find.

Avoid cramming every part into one diagram

More detail is not always better.

If your diagram contains too many parts, the customer has to hunt. If they have to hunt, they may go back to calling you.

Use one diagram when the product is simple enough. Split it when the drawing becomes crowded. You can create multiple Konfigs for different models, assemblies, or product sections.

A smaller, clearer diagram usually beats a massive diagram that technically includes everything.

What to do if you do not have a diagram

Not every merchant starts with manufacturer diagrams.

You can still build something useful. A clear product photo with hotspots may be enough for accessories, modular products, outdoor structures, or simple replacement parts.

You can also create a simplified illustration. It does not need to show every screw. It needs to show the parts customers need to identify and buy.

If you are preparing your own image, focus on clarity, spacing, and recognisable part positions.

The best diagram is the one customers understand

Do not choose an image because it looks technical. Choose it because it helps the customer find the right part.

Open the image on desktop and mobile. Imagine a customer who does not know the part name. Can they find the broken component? Can they click the hotspot comfortably? Can they connect the diagram to the parts list?

If the answer is yes, you have a good diagram image.

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